Winding-machine.



C. R. UNDERHILL. WINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED on. 17. 1913.

1,166,948. V Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ilia neasesx lave? fork C. R. UNDERHILL. WINDING MACHINE. APPLlCATlON FILED OCT. 17, 1913.

Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

,2 SHEETS-SH EET 2.

Wilfneslswon v NECTICU'IR WINDING-MACHINE.

UNrr D STATES PATEN OFFICE. 1

CHARLES n.- UNDERHILL, on NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ACME WIRE COMPANY, on

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES RLIINDER- HILL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident .of New Haven, in the countyof New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in finding-Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to .a winding machine, and particularly tomeans for controlling the tension of the wire or-other strand being wound by such a machine, and the main object of the invention is to provide an improved winding machine forwinding wires and other strands in which the tension on the strand and the rate of travel thereof may be maintained substantially constant.

It is well known that in winding magnets, etc., it is important to keep'the tension on the wire throughout the winding operation as nearly constant as'possible, and it is also well known that it is exceedingly difligc'ult to maintain such a. substantially constant tensio-n I believe that the solution of this problem is to be found in a mutual control between the speed of the winding mandrel and the speedof the spool or source of supply of wire to be wound upon that mandrel.

In order to obtain such a, mutual control lightness of parts is important, in order that a rapid acceleration or retardation o-f the speed of the traveling strand at the desired point or points may be obtained. It is especially important that the mandrel itself be. light; and it should be driven in such a manner that all inertia and momentum capable of affecting the rate of travel of the strand at the winding point may be as far as possible eliminated. In order to accom plish this result the winding mandrel is preterably separated from all of the other driven parts of the machine and is operated separately by a motor not connected withany other part of the driven mechanism of the winding machine. the only connection between the winding mandrel and the other parts of the machine,

with the exception of the means for tensio-ning the strand, is the wire or strand itself. For the purpose of controlling the tension Specification of Letters Patent.

In the present case NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A GQBPORATION 0F CON- sion of theistrand itself for varying the rate of travel of such strand. This controlling action is preferably exercised at the two.

Patented Jan. 4', 1916.

Application filed October 17, 1913. Serial No. 795,623. i

trayel ofthe strand at the point of supply. It is also the means employed for varying the rate'of travel of the strand at the winding point; but in this case the controlling action is exerted directly upon the driving means or-moto-r by means of which the mandrel is operated, and through that motor the speed of travel of the mandrel and hence the rate of traverof the strand at the windmg POIIIt' will. be regulated. In' addition to the provision of means for controlling the s i'tive interaction of the means for controlhug the travel of the strand at these two points and a correspondingly sensitive response by each of these controlling means to the controlling action of the other. In order to obtain the best results I deem it desirable to employ electrical controlling means of the quick-acting type, the movable controllingparts of which are light and readily responsive when it is necessary to bring them into action, and the operation of this electrical controlling means, which not only controls but is also controlled by the rate of travel of the strand, is preferably governed by a loop in the strand between the point of supply and the'winding point ofthe machine and is effected through a take-up device c0- operative directly with such loop-portion of the strand passing to the mandrel. By

means of a suitable sensitive take-up device forming part .of my automatic tension device for controlling the rate of travel of the wire being wound, every variation in the relatii e rate of travel of the strand at the point of supply and the winding point respectively may be instantaneously and accurately indicatedand measured, and a corresponding in stantaneous and accurate variation of the rate of travel of the strand at the winding point maybe effected, which variation will be substantially proportional to the change 1n the ratio of the speed at the two points mentioned. Thus, by providing a suitable take-up device cooperative with said loop and so constructed as to'be responsive instantly to every increase or decrease of the speed of travel of the strand, either at the point of supply or at the winding point, the bend of the loop with which the controlled point of the take-up device cooperates, will be caused to indicate and measure automatically the variations in the speed ratio of the two points referred to, and the controlling point of the take-upwill, in the construction employed by me, effect the corresponding necessary variationsin the speed of travel of the supplying means and the mandrel, as for example, through the proper regulation of the action of a brake in the formercase .and the proper regulation of the speed of the motor for driving the mandrel in the latter; case. Other features of my present invention not hereinbefore referred to will be hereinafter described and claimed and are illus' trated in the accompanying drawings, in which, 1 c

Figure 1 is asectional side elevation broken at one 'point in the length thereof,

' of a simple typeof winding machine embodying suitable means for .automatically controlling the rate of travel of the strand being wound through the tension exerted on said strand; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same shown on a smaller scale, and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the main elements'of said machine and the electrical controlling means therefor.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings Any suitable means maybe employed for mounting and operating the several parts of my improved Winding machine.

The

necessary mechanism of such a machine is quite'simple and comprises principally suit-,. able means for supporting and controlling the rotation. of a spool or other supplying means, a mandrel, and means for turning the same, and means for controlling the rate of travel of the strand and for reversing the direction of' travel of the feed device by means of which successive layers are wound upon the mandrel, this'reversal, of course,

taking place at the end of each helix wound.

All of these operating parts may be mounted upona suitable base, such as 2, or upon suitable standards rising therefrom, such as are shown at 3, 4c, 5, 6 and 7.

ones, as on these are mounted thmandrel on which the strand is to be wound and the spool or source of supply from which such strand comes. Here the supply spool is in- The supports 4 and 5 are the principal driving means for the mandrel, it being.

illustrated as the armpture shaft of an elec tric motor, 12, employed for turning the mandrel.

The strand in passing from the spool or supplying means 8 to' the winding mandrelv 10, passes, as is usual, around a guide-sheave operative for laying the strand on the mandrel in coils in close succession. This guidesheave may be of the type indicated at 13, it being suitably mounted in this case on a feed-nut, 14, mounted to travel back and forth along a feed-screw, 15, which may be rotated by any suitable driving means, such as an electric motor, 16. -The feed-screw 15 constitutes in this case an extension of the armature shaft of the motor 16 and has its free end mounted in the upright 6, for support. It will be noticed that separate driving means or motors are employed for turning the feed-screw and the arbor of the winding mandrel respectively, in order that the work to be done in turning the winding mandrel may be reduced to the minimum.

For the purpose of-reversing thedirccti-on of movement of the feed-nut 14 and the guide-sheave 13 traveling therewith, the direction of rotation of the motor 16 will be .reversed. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner, a simple mechanical means being illustrated for the purpose of reversing the direction of current through the motor 16 at the proper time.' This electromechanical reversing switch comprises, in

the construction here illustrated, a slide, 17, one end of which is mounted to move back and forth in the support 7, while the other end is connected directly to a reversing switch, 18, of well-known construction, controlling thedirectionof the current through the motor 16. On the reversing rod or bar 17 are two projections, 19 and 20, which cooperate'with a corresponding projection, 21, extending from the feed-nut 14. These parts are so constructed and combined that at the proper point near the end of its travel in one direction the projection 21 strikes one or the other of the projections 19 and 20 on the switch-bar 17 and shifts said switch bar until the switch is in the opposite position for reversing the current through the motor 16. On the appro-ach to the opposite end of its travel in the new direction this,

operation is ofcourse repeated through the other projection. on the switch-bar and the switch-bar shifted in the opposite direction,

and with it the-switch 18, to send the current through said motor in the other direction. As the speed with which the feed-screw 15 travels should he substantiallyconstant in one direction or the other, the reversing switch 18 is all that is required to control the operation of the motor 16. In thecaseof the winding mandrel 10, however, while the rate of rotation should be substantiallyconstant, yet in order to obtain a proper,

\ means for controlling the action thereof and obtaining a close regulation ofthe speedof rotationjof the armature shaft 11. I prefer to regulate the speed of this shaft by shuntpointis preferablyocarried around a suitable guide-point to form a loop and th' guidepoint 1s shiftable in a path of considerable length. The object of this is to obtain at the guide-point controlled bythis'loop a very sensitive action and to transmit the movement that takes place at this guide-point to another point controlling the rate of travel of the strand being wound.- This guidepoint in the present case is the axis of a guide-sheave, 26, mounted to turn in this instance on a rock-arm, 27, suitably pivoted at 28 and having, in the construction shown, a

controller-arm, or switch-arm, 29, carrying a contact, 30, adapted to travelove'r a series of contacts, 31, of a suitable rheostat, 32, for the purpose of obtaining a fine regulation of the flow of current in a controlling electric circuit, in this case the circuit of the series motor 12 governing the winding mandrel.

Here a second controller-arm or switch-arm, 33, is also in fixed relation with the rock-arm 27 and carries a contact, 34, movable over aseries of contacts, 35, of said rheostat in a manner similar to that illustrated in connection with the contacts 30 and 31. This second switch-arm and row of contacts coni-ng more or less of the current normally trol in the present case the current through passing through the field windings or armature windings, as the case may be. The manner. in which this regulating action is preferably secured will be hereinafter described more in detail.

In addition to obtaining a close regulation of the, rate of travel of the wire or other strand at the winding pointof the mandrel,

as just described, I also preferably employ means for obtaining a close regulation of the rate of travel of said strand at the point of supply. In the construction here shown this regulation results from the employment of a brakliaving a graduated braking action preferablyunder electrical control. I have illustrated in this construction a brake, 22,

strand travels is intended to be controlled by the tension thereon, this tension serving in v the present case to control the rate of travel both at the point of supply and at the winding .point. In order that the changes in the tension of the strand being wound may bring about a substantially instantaneous regula-- tion of the speed of the motor 12 controlling the winding operation, or of the spool 8 controlling the paying out of the strand, or of both of these,- the portion of the strand between the point of supply and the winding the solenoid 25. The rock-arm 27 together with the switch-arms 29 and 33 and the guide-sheave 26 constitute a light rocking element freely movable about the axis 28 in one direction under the influence of the tension exerted by the shortening loop, 1, of the strand, 8, being wound, and also freely movable in the opposite direction under the influence of a suitable actuator, such as a light spring, 36, which opposes the pull of said shortening loop, as will be obvious. The tension of the spring'36 may be regulated as shown in Fig. 1,"by a suitable adjusting screw, 37. As the strand travels around the various rotary elements from the spool 8 the supply spool at every moment will be ac curately indicated and measured by the position and movement of said rock-arm and the parts connected thereto, Said rock-arm will of course swing to the right in Fig.1 as the tension on the strand between the point of supply and the winding point decreases, and W111 swing to the left as sald tenslon lncreases and becomes effective to overcome the power exerted by the spring 36. As said rock-armswings in one direction or the other thecontroller-ar'ms 29 and 33 willcorrespondingly sets of resistances of the rheostat 32 and the i current passing through the brake-controlling solenoid 25 and the series motor governing the rate of rotation of the mandrel.

will be correspondingly cut down or built up, as'*the case mav be.

.The manner in which the automatic electric controlling means or switch mechanism of supply and thewinding point, will be clear by referring to the diagram in Fig. 3, in which the controller-arms 29 and 33, are indicated by arrows as cooperating with the rows of contacts 31 and 35 of two sets of resistance coils, one of which is indicated at 38 and serves to control the solenoid" 25, while the other is divided into two sections, 39 and 40, controlling respectively the armature and field windings-ofthe series motor 12. 41 and 42 and 43 and 44: designate terminals which, itwill be understood, are connected with a suitable source or sourcesiof electric energy, and it will be clear that when thereis no resistance 38 in the circuit of the solenoid 25 and no resistance 39 or in shunt with the circuit of the armature 45, or the field windings, 46, of the series motor 12 the full strength of the current employed to energize the solenoid 25 will flow through said solenoid and the full strength of the current used in the motor 12 will pass through both the armature windings and the field windings of said motor. The manner in which the controllerfarm 33, moving in either :direction from a central point, cuts the sections of the resistance coil 38 into or out of circuitzwill be obvious. This solenoid circuit is shown in light lines in Fig. 3 to distinguish it from the circuit through the motor. When'the controller-arm 29 is on the central contact of the series of contacts 31 the circuit of the motor v12 will be directly through'the field windings'and the'varmature windings thereof, as will be clear from the diagram. When, however, the arm 29 swings either to the right or to the left onto the contacts controlling either the resistance '40 or the resistance 39 a shunt, of greater or less resistance around either the field windings or the armature windings, as the case may be, will be established and a portion of the current traversing such windings correspondingly shunted, as will be clear fromsaid diagraim When the controller-arm 29 reaches its extreme right-hand position the field windings 46 will be completely shunted and all the current will pass from terminal 44 through conductor 47,, resistance 40, controller-arm 29 and conductor 48, to and .throughthe armature windings without passing through the field windings; while when 1n its extreme left-hand position all of the current will pass from said terminal 44 through conductor 47 through the windings nicaeae' 46, conductor 48, controller-arm 29 and conductor 49, to the opposite terminal 43 without passing through the armature windings 45, and thus an absolute short circuit of the armature will be established and the motor will be instantaneously stopped automatically when the controller-arm. 29 reaches this extreme left-hand position.

It will be clear from the foregoing that by the means described there 'is obtained an interdependent control of the movements of.

the Strand at the point of supply and the winding point respectively which control is exceedingly sensitive and is responsive subrate of travel at the point of supply, or to a change in the rate of travel at both of said points. As the controlling point changes and the controller-arm swing in one direction or the other the flow of current through the solenoid 25 and the series electric motor 12 will be varied in the manner'before described to produce the necessary changes in the braking action and in the speed of rotation of the armature shaft 11 automatically determined by the action of the electrical controlling means for measuring and indicating the variations in the tension of the strand, and for varying the rate of travel of the strand in accordance with such changes in tenslon.

What Iclaim is:

. 1. In a winding'rnachine, the combination with a winding mandrel, ofa motor normally operative for turning said mandrel, and electrical means cooperating with the strand at a point between the point of supply and the mandrel and controlled by the tension of the strand'being wound for varying the rate of travelof the turning mandrel.

2. In a winding machine, the combination with .a winding mandrel, of a motor normally operative for turning said mandrel, and electrical controlling means cooperative with the strand at a point between the point of supply and the mandrel for regulating .the rate of travel of the turning mandrel.

3. In a winding machine, the combination with awinding mandrel, of a motor normally operative-for turning said mandrel. andelectrical controlling means for regulating the rate of travel of the strand at the turning mandrel said means embodying an element cooperative withthe strand at a point between the point of supply and the mandrel and controlled by the tension of the strand. r

4. In a winding machine, the combination with a winding mandrel, of a motor for i turning said mandrel, and electricalcontrolling meansfor regulating the rate of travel of the strand said means embodying" an ele-' ment cooperative with the strand at a point element controlling said rate of travelcand a second element controlled by the tension of the strand,

6. In a winding machine, the combination w1th a winding mandrel, of a motor normally operative for turning said mandrel,

and. electrical means coiiperative with the strand at a point between the point of supply sion of the strand being wound for varying the speed'of said .moto'r. i

7. In a winding machine, the combination with a winding mandrel, of. a motor normally operative for turning said mandrel, and electrical means cooperative with the.

' strand at a point between the .point o'f sup ply and the mandrel, and controlled by an increase in the tension of the strand being wound for reducing the speed of said motor.

,8. In a winding machine, the combination with a. winding mandrel, of a motor normally operative'for turning said mandrel,

and electrical means cofiperative with the strand at a point between the point of sup- I ply and the mandrel and controlled by a decrease in the tension of the strand being -woundfor increasing the speed of said motor. v

9. In a winding machine, the combination with a wmdin mandrel, of a series motor I for turning sa1d mandrel and having field and armature windings, and means controlled being wound for shunting one of said windby anincrease in the tension of the strand mgs.

10. In a winding machine, the combination with a winding mandrel, of a series motor for turning said mandrel and having field and armature windings, and means con-' trolled by changes in the tension of the.

strand being wound-for shunting both of- 'thestrand between the po1nt 0 supply and said windings but each at adi-fierent time.

-11. In a winding machine, the combination with a winding mandrel and with Q means for supplying a strand, of amotor and the mandrel and controlled by the tenr) I I 5 point of supply and the mandrel for varying the speed of said motor.

12. In a winding machine, the combination with a windingmandrehof an independent motor unconnected with the remainder of the winding machine and normally operative for turning said mandrel, and electrical means cooperative with the strand at a point between 'the point of supply and the mandrel and controlled by the tension of the strand being wound for varying the speed of saidmotor. v

13. In a-winding machine, the combination with a winding mandrel, of a motor for turning said mandrel, and an automatic tension device cooperative with the strand at a point between the point of supply and the strand and embodying electrical means for I varying the rate of travel of'the turning mandrel. I,

14. In a winding machine, the comb'lnation with a winding mandrel, of means for mandrel and controlled by the tension of the supplying a strand, a take-up device for controlling .a loop in the strand between the point .of supply and the winding point, and

electricalmeans controlled by sa1d take-up device for varyingtherate of travel of the turning mandrel. I I

15. In a-windi-ng machine, the combination with 'a winding mandrel, of means for supplying a strand, a take-up devlce for controlling a loop in the strand between the point of supply and the winding point, and

electrical means controlled by said take-up device for varying the rate of travel of the strand at'the mandrel.

16. In a wmdlng machine, the combination with a windin mandrel, of means for supplying a stran a take-up device for controlling a loopin'the strand between the point of supply and the winding point, and

automaticelectrical means controlled by'said take-up device forvarying the rate of travel of .the strand-supplying means and ofthe turning, mandrel.

17. In a winding machine, thecombination with. a winding mandrel, of means for supplying a strand, a. take-up device c ooperative with and controlling a loop in the strand between the point of supply and the winding point, and'electrical c-ontrplling means governed by said take-up device for varying the rate of travel ofthe strand.

18. Ina winding machine, the combination with a windin mandrel,,of means for operative .-with and controllin a loop in the winding point, and electrical controlling means'for varying the rate of travel of the strand,- said means including a contact-arm governed by sa1d take-up device.

19. In a winding machine, the combination with a winding mandrel, of means for supplying a stran .a take-up device 00- supplying a strand, a take-up device cooperative with and controlling a loop in the strand between the point of supply and the winding point, and electrical means for regulating the rate of travel of said strand at each of said points in proportionto-the v spectively to said motor and brake.

movements of said take-up device.

20$ In a winding machine, thecombination with a winding mandrel, of means for supplying a strand, a take-up device for controlling a loop in the strand between the point ofsupply and the winding point, a motor for turning the mandrel, and means for varying the speed of said motor in proportion tothe movements of said take-up device. i

21. In a winding machine,the'combination with a winding mandrel, of means for.

supplying a strand, a take-up device for con trolling a loop in the strand between the .point of supply and the winding point, a

motor for turning the mandrel, a brake for said supplying means, and means for vary ing both the-speed of said 'motor and the braking action in proportion to the move ments of saidtake-up device; I 22. In .a winding -machine, the combination with a winding-'mandrel, of means for supplying a strand, a take-up device for controlling a loop in'the strand between the point of supply andthe winding point, electrically-operated means for regulating the fraytjeof travel of the winding mandrel, and "a1 rheostat :for, varying the operation of said;electricallywperated means in, proporitionto-the movements of said take-up device and having a contact-arm governed by said.

take-up device.

23. In a winding machine, the-combination'with a windin -mandrel, of means forsupplying a stran atake-up device for controlling a loop in the strand between thepoint of supplyand the winding point, and electrical controlling means for varying the rate of travel of the strand, said means including a motor for turning the mandrel and a contact-arm governed by said takeup device and controlling the operation of said motor. a

24. In a Windingmachine, the combina-.'

tion with a. winding man'dreL-of means for supplying a strand,pa take-up device for. controlling a loop in the strand between- .the point of supply and the winding point,

and electrical 'controlling'means for vary- 'ing the rate of travel offthe strand, said means including a motor for turning themandrel, and a rheostat governing the operation of said motor and having a contactarm governed by said take-up device.

25. In a winding'machin'e, thecombina "tion with a winding mandrel, of means for.

supplying a strand, a'take-up device forcontrolling a loopin the strand between the point of supply and the winding point, a

motor for turning the mandrel, a brake for said supplying means, and electrical controlling means governing the operation of said motor and brake and including a rheostat having a pair ofcontact-arms governed by said take-up device and corresponding re- 26. In a winding machine, the combination with a Winding mandrel, of means for supplying a strand, a take-up device for the strand.

27- In a winding machine, the combination with a winding mandrel, of automatic electrical means for supplying a strand, and means controlled conjointly by said mandrel and supplying means and cooperative with the strand at a point between them for regulating the rate of travel of the strand. I

28. Ina winding machine, the combination with a winding mandrel, of automatic electrical means for supplying a strand, and means controlled conjointly by said mandrel and supplying means and cooperative with the strand at a point between them for maintaining a substantially constant tension upon the strand.

29. In a winding machine, the combination with a winding mandrel, of automatic electrical means for supplying'a strand, and means controlled conjointly Joy said mandrel and supplying means and cooperative with the strand at a point between them for maintaining a substantially constant tension upon the strand at the-.winding'poin't.

,30. In a winding machine, the combination with a" winding mandrel, of a motor normally operative for turning said mandrel, and electrical controlling means cooperativ with. the. material ata point between the point of supply and the mandrel for regulating the rate of travel of the turning mandrel.

31. In a winding machine, the combina;

and electrical means controlled by said takeup device for varying the rate of travel of the turning mandrel.

32. In a winding machine, the combinasupplying amaterial, a take-up device for controlling a loop in the material between the' point of supply and the winding point,-

and electrical means controlled by said takeup device for varying the rate of travel of the material at the mandrel j tion with 'awinding mandrel, of means for i 33.,In a winding machine/the combination with a winding mandrel, of means for supplying a material, a take-up device cooperative with and controlling a loop in the material between the point of supply and the winding point, and electrical control ling means governed by said take-up device for' varying the rate of travel of the material;

34. Ina winding machine, the combination with a winding mandrel, of means for supplying a material, a take-up device cooperative with and controlling a loop in the a material between the point of supply and the winding point, and electrical, controlling means for varying the rate of travel of the material, said means including a contact- -arm governed by said take-,up device.

35. Ina winding machine, the combination with aiwinding mandrel, of means for supplying a material, a take-up device for controlling .a loop in the material between the point of supply and the windin point, a motor for turning the mandrel, an means for varying the speed of said motor in proportion to the movements of said take-up device.

36. Ina Winding machine, the combination with a winding mandrel, of means for supplying a material, a take-up device for controlling a loop in the material between the point of supply and the winding point,

electrically-operated means for regulating the rate of travel of the winding mandrel,

means including a motor for turning the mandrel and'a" contact-arm governed by said take-up device and controlling the operation of said motor.

38-. In a winding machine, the combination with a winding mandrel, of means for supplying a material, a take-up device for controlling a loop" in thematerial between the point of supply and the winding point, and electrical controlling means for varying the rate of travel of the material, said means including a motor for turning the mandrel,

and a rheostat governing the operation of said motor and having a contact-arm governed by said take-up device.

Signed at New Haven in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut this 9th day of October.A. D.'1913. I

' CHARLES R. UNDERHILLQ Witnesses: Y MARY A. MURPHY,

- Ev-A .M. VrsEL. 

